Log sawing machine



Feb. 21; 1933. J HOUTS 1,898,960

LOG SAWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l "lul J'ohn B. Houfs.

J. R. HOUTS LOG SAWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1952 Feb. 21, 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIglhIII '7 A V.

Patented Feb. 21, 1933 JOHN R; HO'UTS, F MCLEAN, VIRGINIA- LOG SAWIFIG MACHINE Application filed September 19, 1932.

This invention'relates to log sawing niachinesand has for'its object to provide a simple and thoroughly efficient device of this character especially designed for domestic use and by means of which logs and other timber may be conveniently sawed into predetermined lengths with very little exertion on the part of the operator.

A further object is to provide a portable machine which is light in weight and inexpensive in construction, and which may be used, with equally good results, either for sawing-standing timber or for sawing logs while they are lying on the ground.

A further object is to provide novel means for guiding the saw and means coacting with the guiding means for exerting a yieldable downward pressureon the'upper edge of the saw blade during the reciprocation thereof.

A further object is to provide a log saw machine including relatively stationary and movable impalement members adapted to grip opposite sides of the log and prevent turning movement thereof as the saw operates thereon.

A still further object is generally to improve this class'of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

In the accompanying drawings'forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a log'saw ing machine constructedin accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the Line 3-3 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, showing the manner of connecting the operating lever to the saw and the construction of thelocking pawls.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and look-' ing in the direction of the arrows.

ll 1. 1 tl Figure 0 1s a ongituc ma sec iona v1ew showlng the clutch lever for locking the forward'impalement hooks 1n engagement with a log.

Figure 7 1s a detail transverse sectional View showing the clutch lever in elevated ingan upstanding inverted U-shaped guide Serial No. 633,906.

side bars 6 having their forward ends inclined upwardly at 7 and adapted to extend over or rest upon the log to be sawed, indicated at 8, the rear ends of the side bars 7 being connected by a curved'transverse bar 9 preferably formed integral therewith, i

as shown. Disposed at the rear end of the base member or frame 5 is a standard 10 preferably formed of spaced upright bars havlng their intermediate portions bent or coiled around the side bars 6 of the frame i to form loops 11 connected by a transverse spacing bar 12 which serves to hold the side bars of the frame in proper spaced relation and imparts the desired rigidity thereto. Pivotally mounted at 13 between the upper ends of the side bars comprising the standard is an operating lever 14, the upper end of which is extended beyond the pivot 13 to form a handle 15 while the lower end thereof is provided with a vertical slot or lrerf 16 adapted to receive the heel of a saw indicated at 17. The saw 17 fits within the kerf 16 and is pivotally connected with the lower end of the operating lever at 18 so that when the handle 15 is reciprocated a corre- 8 spending reciprocatory motion will be imparted to the saw. Interposed between the upwardly inclined forward ends 7 of the frame is a vertically disposed yoke 19 hav- 20 adapted to receive the upper edge of the saw 17 and through which said'saw moves as the operating lever is reciprocated. Secured to the opposite legs of the yoke 19 are clips or loops 21 in which the inclined portions 7 of the frame are loosely mounted so as to permit rearward movement of the yoke with respect to the supporting frame. The loops 21'are secured to the side members of the yoke by bolts or similar fastening devices 22 and 23, the lower bolts 22 also passing through the adjacent ends of side levers 24 and serving to pivotally connect the inner ends of the side levers to the yoke, as best shown in Figures 1 and of the drawings. Secured to the side bars of the standard are straps 25 having their intermediate portions spaced therefrom to form guide slots 26 and through which the rear ends of the side levers 24 pass and terminate in hand grips 27. The front edges of the bars comprising the standard 10 are formed with teeth or notches 28 which coact with pawls 29 pivotally mounted at 30 on the side levers 24 and which serve to hold the yoke 19 in its forward or operative position'. The pawls 29 are provided with lateral lugs 31 adapted to engage the upper edges of the side levers 24 so as to limit the downward pivotal movement thereof and hold the pawls in convenient position to be manually operated when necessary. The side members of the yoke 19 extend downwardly and are curved forwardly to form impalement members 32, the terminals of which are provided with points or spurs 32 adapted to bite into the adjacent side of the log 8 when the yoke is thrust forwardly by the action of the side levers 24. Coacting with the impalement members 32 are forward hooks or impalement members 33 having bills 34 adapted to bite into the opposite side of the log. The rear ends of the books 33 are curved upwardly to provide handles 35 by depressing which the hooks 33 may be disengaged from the log. Longitudinal slots 36 are formed in the intermediate portions of the hooks 33 and extending through said slots are bolts 37 which also extend through the adjacent ends of the side members 7 of, the frame and through clutch levers 38 and form a pivotal connection between the parts. The clutch levers 38 are provided with bosses or projections 39 adapted to bear against the adjacent portions of the hooks 33 when said levers are swung downwardly to a horizontal position so as to wedge the hooks 33 against the side bars of the frame and thus hold the bills 34 of the hooks in engagement with the log. 'When the clutch levers 38 are swung to an upright position, as shown in Figure 7, the pressure of the bosses 39 will be relieved so that the hooks 33 may be readily disengaged from the log. The slots 36 rmit the hooks 33 to be adjusted longitu inally, thereby to accommodate logs of different cross sectional diameters.

Pivotally mounted on the u per end of the saw guide 20 is a substantia ly U-shaped tension member 40, the closed end and opposite sides of which are slotted at 41 to receive a pivot pin or bolt 42 by means of which the tension member is held in position for longitudinal sliding movement on the guide 20. J ournaled in the open end of the guide member is a roller 43 which bears against the upper edge of the saw 17 and serves to guide said saw during its reciprocatory movement. Coil springs 44 are arranged on opposite sides of the tension device 40, one end of each spring being attached in any suitable manner to the adjacent side of the tension member in front of the pivot 42 and the other end thereof being attached to lateral arms 45 of the yoke 19, as best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The springs 44 tend to exert a yieldable downward pressure on the roller 43 so as to, in turn, exert a yieldable pressure on the upper edge of the saw 17 as the latter cuts through the log, the slot 41 in the tension member serving to permit longitudinal movement of said tension member and thus allow the roller 43 to accommodate itself to the saw blade as the latter saws through a log or other timber.

Slidably mounted on the curved end 9 of the frame is a loop or ring 46 to which is swiveled at 47 a corresponding loop 48 which receives one end 49 of a telescopic prop or support 50, the telescopic members of the prop or support being held in adjusted position by a set screw 51. The free end of the member 50 is retained in position on the side bar 7 of the frame by a spring clip 52 so as to support said prop 50 in inoperative position when the devioe is used for sawing felled timber. By removing the prop 50 from the clip 52, the latter may be readily swung downwardly so that the free end thereof may be inserted in the ground and act as a support for the rear end of the frame when the machine is used for cutting standing timber. In this connection, it is to be noted that inasmuch as the ring 46 is loosely mounted on the curved end bar 9 of the main frame, the prop or support may be susended from the main frame at any desire point.

When the machine is to be used for cutting felled logs or other timber into predetermined lengths, the machine is positioned adjacent the log 8 and the forward im alement hooks 33 swung downwardly unti the bills thereof engage one side of the log, after which the clutch levers 38 are swung downwardly to clamp the hooks 33 to the main frame and prevent accidental displacement of the bills of said hooks. The hand grips 27 are then grasped and a longitudinal pressure exerted on t e side bars 24 which causes the bills 32 of the impalement members 32 to impinge the opposite side of the log from the hooks 33 and thus revent turning movement of the log during the sawing o eration. As longitudinal pressure is exertec on the handles 27, the free ends of the pawls will automatically engage the ratchet teeth and hold the impalement members 32 securely inengagement with the 10 The handle 15 of the operating member is then. reciprocated so as to impart a corresponding reciprocating movement to the saw blade and thus sever the log. As the 'and the side bars moved rearwardly so as to disengage the. rear impalement members W'hen cutting standing timber, the ma-.

chine is placed on its side adjacent the tree to be sawed and the prop 50 released from the clip 52 and swung downwardly so as to engage the ground, in which position the machine will be supported as the operator reciprocates the lever 15 to effect the sawing operation.

A series of openings 44 are preferably formed in the lower portion of the tension device or yoke 40 in which the upper ends of the springs a l may be fastened when said yoke is adjusted longitudinally to increase or decrease the pressure exerted by the roller on the upper edge of the saw.

From the foregoing description it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A log sawing machine comprising a frame having upwardly deflected side bars, a standard interposed between said side bars, forward log gripping members mounted on the deflected side bars of the f 'ame, a guide yoke pivotally mounted between said deflected side bars and provided with rear log gripping members, means for forcing the rear gripping members in engagement with a log, a saw mounted for reciprocation in the guide yoke, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the standard and operatively connected with the saw, and means carried by the guide yoke for exerting a yieldable downward pressure on the upper edge of the saw.

2. A log sawing machine comprising a frame, a standard connected with the frame, a guide yoke slidably mounted on the frame and provided with impalement members adapted to grip one side of a log, impale ment hooks pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted to engage the other side of the log, clutch levers coacting with the impalement hooks and provided with bosses adapted to engage the frame for holding the hooks against pivotal movement, an operating lever pivotally mounted: on the standard, a saw operating in the guide yoke and pivotally connectedwi-th the operating lever, and a tensiondevice carried by the guide yoke and adapted to bear againstthe upper edge of the saw.

3. In a log sawing machine, a supporting frame, a guide yoke slidably mounted on the frame and provided with impalement members, hooks mounted on the frame and coacting with the impalement members to grip a log, an operating lever, a saw mounted for reciprocation in the. guide .yoke. and

lever, a tension membenmounted on the pivotally connected with the operatingi guide yoke and adapted to engage the upper r edge of the saw, and springs forming a yieldable connection between the guide yoke and said tension member.

l. In a log sawing machine, a frame, a yoke having nnpalement members adapted to grip one'side of a log and provided with an upstanding guide loop, log. gripping. hooks mounted on the frame and coacting with the impalement members, a saw mount.- ed for reciprocation in the guidealoop, an operating lever pivotally connected with the saw, a longitudinally slotted U-shaped' frame pivotally mounted on the guide loop, a roller mounted in the open end of the U- shaped frame and adapted to bear against the upper edge of the saw, and .yieldable means forming a connection between the yoke and sa1d frame.

5. In a log sawing machine, a frame, a

standard rising from the frame, strap irons secured to the standardand spaced there-- from to form guides, a yoke slidably mounted-on the frame and provided with impalement members, hooks pivotally mounted onthe frame and coacting with said impalement members, side bars connected with the yoke and having their rear ends extended through the guides, ratchet teeth formed on the standard, pawls pivotally mounted on the side bars and coacting with the ratchet teeth, a saw blade mounted for reciprocation in the yoke, and an operating lever pivotally mounted on the standard and having .its lower end pivotally connected with the saw blade;

6. In a log sawing machine, a supporting frame, a standard securedto the frame, a

yoke slidablyc mounted on the frame and' provided with a guide loop, said yoke being formed with terminalimpalement' memstandard and pivotally.connectedwith. the

saw, and means for holdin the impalement members in engagement with the log.

7. In a log sawing machine, a substantialnly U-shaped supporting frame having side bars the orward ends of which are inclined upwardly, a standard interposed between the side bars at the rear end of the frame, a yoke inte osed between and slidably mounted on the orwardly inclined portions of the side bars of the frame and having its up )er end provided with a reduced vertically isposed guide and its lower end provided with impalement members, hooks pivotally mounted onthe inclined portions of the frame and having their intermediate portions provided with slots and their inner ends extended upwardly to form handles, clutch levers having bosses thereon adapted to engage the frame to hold the hooks in engagement with a log, a saw mounted for reciprocation in the guide, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the standard and ivotally connected with the rear end of tie saw, and a tension device pivotally mounted on the upper end of the guide and including a roller ada ted to yieldably engage the upper edge of t e saw.

8. In a log sawing machine, a supporting frame including upwardly inclined side bars, a yoke interposed between the inclined side bars and provided at its upper end with a reduced extension forming a guide loop, impalement members carried by the lower ends of the yoke, clips secured to the yoke and encircling the inclined side bars, hooks pivotally mounted on the inclined side bars and coactin with the impalement members, means or holding the hooks in engagement with the work, means for moving the impalement members into and out of engagement with a log, a standard carried by the frame, a saw mounted for reciprocation in the guide 100 an operating lever pivotally mounted on t e standard and pivotally connected with the saw, and a longitudinally slotted tension device pivotally mounted on the upper end of the guide loop and yieldably engaging the upper edge of the saw.

. 9. In a log sewing machine, the combination with a frame, a yoke carried by the frame and provided with impalement members, hooks mounted on the frame and coacting with the im alement members to grip a log, means for ocking the hooks in engagement with the log, means for moving the impalement members into and out of engagement with the log, a saw mounted for reciprocation in the yoke, an operating lever connected with the saw, and a tension device carried by the yoke and adapted to engage the upper edge of said saw.

10. In a log sawing machine, the combination with a frame, a yoke slidahly mounted for swinging movement on the frame and 65 provided with impalement members, hooks pivotally mounted on the frame and coacting with the impalement members to grip a log, means for holding the hooks in engagement with said log, a saw mounted for reciprocation in the oke, an operating lever pivotally connected with the saw means operatively connected with the yoke for movin" the impalement members into and out o engagement with the log, means for locking the impalement members in operative position, and a longitudinally adjustable tension device pivotally mounted on the yoke and normally exerting a yieldable pressure on the upper edge of the saw.

11. In a log sawing machine, a substantially U-shaped frame having its closed end transversely curved a saw mounted for reciprocation on the frame, coacting gripping members adapted to engage a log, an operating lever connected with the saw, a loop slidably mounted on the curved end of the frame, a support pivotall mounted on the loop, and means carried y the frame and adapted to engage the support for holding the support in inactive position.

12. In alog sawing machine, the combination with a frame including upwardly inclined side bars, a yoke interposed between the side bars and slidably connected therewith, said yoke being provided with terminal impalement members, hooks having their intermediate portions slotted and their inner ends curved upwardly, said hooks cooperating with the impalcment members to grip a log, clutch levers having bosses adapted to engage the inclined bars of the frame for holding the hooks in engagement with the log, bolts passing through the inclined portions of the frame, and slots in the hooks and said clutch levers and forming a pivotal connection between the same, a sa w mounted for reciprocation in the yoke, an operating lever pivotally connected with the rear end of the saw, means for moving the impalement members into and out of engagement with the log, and means for holding said impalement members in operative position.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

JOHN R. HOUTb. [1,. s.] 

